News

Airwave Sweep to Cost a Billion Dollars

12/30/2005

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Airwave Sweep to Cost a Billion Dollars: Wireless airwave frequencies highly sought after by industry are going up on the auction block as soon as June, as DOD along with 11 other federal agencies move to new airspace. According to the Associated Press news service, the Commerce Department says the turnover of an estimated 90 megahertz worth of space will cost $936 million. The Pentagon portion is about $289 million. According to the law mandating the switchover, the auction must deliver about 10 percent above cost—just over a billion. The Pentagon and other government agencies will move to other frequencies, making way for advanced commercial wireless services. The entire process could take up to four years.